Smartphone accessory diagnoses HIV and syphilis in 15 minutes

February 5, 2015 9:02 AM

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Powered by the energy from a smartphone, the device can simultaneously detect three infectious disease markers from only a finger prick of blood. The test takes 15 minutes and is the first instance of a device being created capable of replicating all the electronic, mechanical and optical functions of a lab-based blood test.

HIV and syphilis are most common in parts of the developing world, where access to health care may be more limited. The creation of a cheap and portable method of diagnosis that does not rely on laboratory facilities could be truly groundbreaking.